District Chef Needed for School Food Service

Maschio's Food Service; Vernon Township (NJ); On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Maschio's Food Service Inc. is seeking an experienced District Chef to lead culinary operations across multiple school locations. The role focuses on menu development, culinary innovation, food quality, staff training, and daily kitchen management.

The ideal candidate will be passionate about school nutrition, capable of developing appealing NSLP-compliant menus, training kitchen staff, and coordinating catering events. Travel between district sites and strong leadership are essential.

Qualifications

• Professional culinary experience is required.
• Catering and satellite kitchen experience is required.
• ServSafe Certification is required.
• K-12 school food service experience is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Develop creative NSLP-compliant menu items and recipes.
• Maintain quality, taste, and presentation across locations.
• Plan, coordinate, and execute district catering events.
• Oversee inventory, ordering, and kitchen workflows.
• Ensure safe, clean, and sanitary working environments.

Skills

Culinary leadership

Menu development

Staff training

Food safety

Nutrition compliance

Kitchen operations

Food presentation

Job description

We are seeking an experienced, creative, and motivated District Chef to lead culinary operations across multiple school locations within the district. This individual will play an important role in menu development, culinary innovation, food quality, staff training, and daily kitchen operations.

The ideal candidate is passionate about food, enjoys developing new menu ideas, and has the leadership skills to train and support kitchen teams while maintaining high standards for food quality, presentation, and safety.

Schedule & Work Environment

• Full-time position
• Monday–Friday
• Occasional evenings and weekends required for catering events
• Travel between school locations within the district required

Key Responsibilities:

Menu Development & Culinary Innovation

• Develop creative and appealing menu items while adhering to National School Lunch Program (NSLP) guidelines and school nutrition requirements.
• Introduce new recipes, menu concepts, and food preparation techniques.
• Promote variety, quality, and student appeal while maintaining nutritional and program standards.

Food Quality & Presentation

• Establish and maintain high standards for food preparation, taste, quality, and presentation.
• Ensure consistency across school locations.
• Monitor food production and presentation to ensure meals meet established standards.

Catering & Special Events

• Plan, coordinate, and execute catering events throughout the district.
• Develop catering menus and oversee food preparation and presentation.
• Ensure proper staffing, production, and service for special events.

Kitchen Operations & Efficiency

• Oversee culinary operations and support efficient kitchen workflows.
• Coordinate food ordering and maintain appropriate inventory levels.
• Conduct monthly inventory reviews.
• Ensure proper use of equipment and personal protective equipment (PPE).
• Maintain safe, clean, and sanitary working environments at all locations.

Qualifications & Requirements:

• Professional culinary experience required.
• Previous catering experience required.Experience with satellite kitchen preparation and meal production required.
• ServSafe® Certification required.
• K-12 school food service experience preferred.
• NSLP experience a plus.
• Strong knowledge of food preparation, cooking techniques, food safety, and presentation.
• Demonstrated ability to train, lead, and develop kitchen staff.
• Creative approach to menu development and culinary innovation.
• Strong organizational, communication, and leadership skills.
• Must be willing to travel between school locations within the district.
• Must be able to obtain all required clearances and documentation to work in a school environment.
• Culinary skills assessment or chef testing may be required as part of the interview process.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to any status protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.